#11 GC Golf Finishes No. 13 in Matlock Invitational

Feb 11, 2014

by Mark Jagord, sports information assistant

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Georgia College golf team began their spring season with the two-day 33rd Matlock Collegiate Classic finishing 13th. The Bobcats finished with a 42-over par 906 in the 75-player and 15-team field at the 7,065-yard, par-72 Lakeland Lone Palm Golf Club.

Georgia College had their best showing yesterday during the second round shooting a three-over par 291. Today, the Bobcats shot a 20-over par 308. The top-four individual scores belonged to junior Ryan Trocchio (Norcross, Ga.) with a 221, senior Victor Monte (Chantilly, Va.) with a 226, senior Bryan Fox (Roswell, Ga.) with a 231, and freshman Nicolas Falkinhoff (Buenos Aires, Argentina) with a 234. They individually placed tied for 28th, tied for 44th, tied for 58th and 64th, respectively.

Lynn University finished first overall with a 12-under par 852. Three other teams finished under par, making it the first time since 1997 that the top-four teams accomplished that. Barry University's Adam Svensson had the top score shooting an 11-under par 205.

This year's field included teams that have captured 21 of the last 25 NCAA Division II national championships. In addition to No. 11 Georgia College, 10 other teams in the tournament are nationally ranked including No. 1 Barry, No. 2 USC-Aiken, No. 3 University of West Florida, No. 5 Columbus State University, No. 8 Nova Southeastern University, No. 10 Lynn, No. 12 Armstrong Atlantic State University, No. 15 Lander University, No. 19 Florida Southern College, and No. 22 Rollins College. Florida Institute of Technology, Valdosta State University, and St. Edward's University all received votes, while Eckerd College completes this year's tournament field.

Originally begun in 1982 as the Imperialakes-Florida Southern Invitational, the tournament was-renamed in 1997 to honor its founder, former Florida Southern golf coach Charlie Matlock. Matlock led the Moccasins to seven national championships before his retirement in 1995. This year marks the seventh year in a row the tournament will be held at Lone Palm Golf Club, which opened in 1965.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.